Table of Contents
With Lebron James & Lamelo Ball out indefinitely, what will be the dynamics MVP & Rookie of the year race?
Due to injury, LeBron James and Lamelo Ball, both probable frontrunners for MVP and Rookie of the Year, may miss out on their chances.
In the last two months, LeBron James has emerged as the frontrunner for the MVP award.
And, from the start of the season, Lamelo Ball was the front-runner for the ‘Rookie of the Year award, ranking first on the list.
However, due to injuries, it appears as the MVP and ROY dynamics will shift.
Injury to LeBron James
On Saturday afternoon, LeBron James suffered an ankle injury while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Atlanta Hawks.
James left the game in the second quarter after hurting his ankle.
Hawks forward Solomon Hill fell on top of James’ right ankle while attempting to grab a loose ball, and James collapsed to the floor in pain.
Nonetheless, James did not leave the court immediately.
He stayed and hit a three-pointer before checking out and heading to his locker.
It was announced shortly after James’ exit from the match that he would not return to the game.
X-rays were negative for the angle, but an MRI revealed James had a high-ankle sprain. As a result, he is out indefinitely.
“Nothing angered and saddened me more than not being accessible to and for my teammates,” James wrote on Twitter after learning the news.
I’m hurting on the inside and out right now.”
“The path to rehabilitation begins now.” “I’ll be back as though I never left.”
2020-21 MVP Competition:
The MVP competition has heated up as the 2020-21 NBA season reaches its second half.
Each month, multiple candidates move up in the NBA MVP Power Rankings.
Previously, two or three players led the NBA MVP race more than the rest of the league in each season.
This year, however, more players are establishing themselves as viable contenders for MVP.
This month’s MVP power rankings show a shift in the ranks, with James rising to the top 5.
According to NBA.com, the top ten players are as follows:
Denver Nuggets Nikola Doncic
Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James
Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid
Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler
Now that James is out for an indeterminate period of time, the MVP competition has shifted.
James has averaged 25.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.1 steal a game this season.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic leads the league with 27.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
Damian Lillard, in second place, averages 30.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.
Similarly, Giannis, who is in the third position, is averaging 29.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.
fifth place Joel Embid, who was ranked first in the previous ranking, is averaging 29.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
However, Joel has fallen from the top after missing games due to injury, which has harmed his chances of winning the MVP.
James’ ranking following his injury
LeBron’s MVP campaign, like Joel’s, will be harmed by the ankle injury he suffered in the game against the Hawks.
Even though LeBron James hasn’t had the finest month, he remains in the top five NBA Power Rankings.
He sat out for the first game this season in the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Sacramento Kings, but he has been in good form.
The Los Angeles Lakers have suffered a significant loss as a result of James’ injury.
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost more games, owing in large part to James’ minor injuries and Anthony Davis’ extended absence.
The season is still young, and James was once considered the frontrunner to win the NBA MVP award in 2021, but injury has changed that.
Injury to Lamelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball suffered a fractured right wrist and will be out indefinitely, the team said Sunday night.
The ball is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, though he is still seeking second opinions.
Race for Rookie of the Year in 2020-2021
Recent power rankings for the NBA Rookie of the Year include five players who are having a significant impact on the league.
And they’re proving those who doubted them before the season wrong.
1. Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball
2. Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards
3. New York Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley
4. Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings
5. Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman
6. Saddiq Bey of the Detroit Pistons
7. Houston Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate
8. Patrick Williams of the Chicago Bulls
9. Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane
10. Houston Rockets’ Kenyon Martin Jr.
Lamelo Ball leads the league with 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.
Anthony Edwards, who is ranked second, averages 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Similarly, Immanuel Quickley, who is in third place, averages 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
Tyrese Haliburton is in fourth place, averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
Finally, James Wiseman ranks fifth with 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
Also Read: Piinksparkles0818, Youtube Star, Career line? Pio Luigi Piscicelli, Instagram Star, single?
Following his injury, Lamelo Ball was named ROY.
Lamelo Ball leads the power rankings for NBA ROY.
LaMelo Ball has long led the way in NBA Rookie of the Year power polls, and the point guard has remained a favorite.
During his 20 games as a starter, Ball averaged 16 points and 6.2 assists per game while scoring 19.8 points on 46.8% shooting.
Since entering the league, the 19-year-old has been exceptional, and he has been instrumental in Charlotte’s drive to make the playoffs.
Everyone thought Lamelo would win Rookie of the Year this year since he was one of the finest rookies in the NBA.
He has been one of the NBA’s top all-around players since taking over the starting role on Feb. 1.
However, Ball sustained a fractured wrist on Saturday evening, which will likely keep him out of the league for the rest of the season.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant earned NBA Rookie of the Year again this year, although No. 1 pick Zion Williamson missed the majority of games due to a knee injury.
This year, history may repeat itself, and likely favorite winner Lamelo Ball may lose out due to an untimely accident.
